David Boies outside the U.S. Supreme Court onMarch 23, 2013.

Just two weeks ago, the St. Petersburg, Florida, City Council was trumpeting an agreement by star litigator David Boies to represent the city in a case that some expect could eventually wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Not anymore.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, city officials are now recoiling at Boies' pro bono offer, more than a week after he acknowledged hiring ex-spies to thwart reporting that ultimately exposed allegations of rampant sexual misconduct by Boies client Harvey Weinstein.

In an email to The American Lawyer on Wednesday, Boies said the city had initially reached out to him, and he reiterated his support for their effort.

“I did not offer to help. I was asked to represent the city and agreed to do so. Although I think the council members are reacting to press reports rather than the facts, the city should have counsel of their choice. I wish them every success,” Boies wrote.

After The New Yorker described Boies' efforts to derail The New York Times' reporting on Weinstein last week, The Times angrily ended its own client relationship with Boies and his firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, which was actively representing the newspaper in other matters.

For St. Petersburg council member Steve Kornell, it was too much. He vowed in a Facebook post to oppose Boies' offer to defend a local law limiting political contributions that is likely to be challenged in court, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

“I find this reprehensible and will absolutely NOT vote to accept Boies' offer to represent the city of St. Petersburg pro bono on the campaign finance issue,” Kornell wrote.

Earlier this fall, the council approved an ordinance capping at $5,000 each year the amount that an individual may give to a political action committee. The law could ultimately serve as a vehicle to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.

Boies, who represented Democrats in Bush v. Gore and successfully argued for marriage equality in the high court, had offered to defend the new ordinance free of charge. When he first made his offer to St. Petersburg, prior to the revelations about Weinstein, council members heralded the gesture.

“We are honored to have the pro bono assistance of David Boies and his law firm in our shared interest in defending more effective election laws to preserve our democracy,” Darden Rice, the City Council chair told the Florida Politics website two weeks ago.

Fast forward to this week, and Rice wasn't so sure. “His interest tells me we have a great case,” she told the Tampa Bay Times. “But we have plenty of time to keep our options open.”

David Boies outside the U.S. Supreme Court onMarch 23, 2013.

Just two weeks ago, the St. Petersburg, Florida, City Council was trumpeting an agreement by star litigator David Boies to represent the city in a case that some expect could eventually wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Not anymore.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, city officials are now recoiling at Boies' pro bono offer, more than a week after he acknowledged hiring ex-spies to thwart reporting that ultimately exposed allegations of rampant sexual misconduct by Boies client Harvey Weinstein.

In an email to The American Lawyer on Wednesday, Boies said the city had initially reached out to him, and he reiterated his support for their effort.

“I did not offer to help. I was asked to represent the city and agreed to do so. Although I think the council members are reacting to press reports rather than the facts, the city should have counsel of their choice. I wish them every success,” Boies wrote.

After The New Yorker described Boies' efforts to derail The New York Times' reporting on Weinstein last week, The Times angrily ended its own client relationship with Boies and his firm, Boies Schiller Flexner, which was actively representing the newspaper in other matters.

For St. Petersburg council member Steve Kornell, it was too much. He vowed in a Facebook post to oppose Boies' offer to defend a local law limiting political contributions that is likely to be challenged in court, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

“I find this reprehensible and will absolutely NOT vote to accept Boies' offer to represent the city of St. Petersburg pro bono on the campaign finance issue,” Kornell wrote.

Earlier this fall, the council approved an ordinance capping at $5,000 each year the amount that an individual may give to a political action committee. The law could ultimately serve as a vehicle to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.

Boies, who represented Democrats in Bush v. Gore and successfully argued for marriage equality in the high court, had offered to defend the new ordinance free of charge. When he first made his offer to St. Petersburg, prior to the revelations about Weinstein, council members heralded the gesture.

“We are honored to have the pro bono assistance of David Boies and his law firm in our shared interest in defending more effective election laws to preserve our democracy,” Darden Rice, the City Council chair told the Florida Politics website two weeks ago.

Fast forward to this week, and Rice wasn't so sure. “His interest tells me we have a great case,” she told the Tampa Bay Times. “But we have plenty of time to keep our options open.”